Kimi Antonelli delivered a masterclass in control at the Circuit of the Americas, converting pole position into his ninth Formula One victory of the season. The Italian led a composed charge to beat Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari into second place, with Max Verstappen rounding out the podium. Despite the dominant performance, the result proved insufficient to seal the World Championship in Texas, leaving the title battle alive by the narrowest of margins for one final round.
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The arithmetic has shifted decisively in Antonelli’s favor, though the math remains tight. After George Russell finished eighth and Lewis Hamilton claimed fourth, Antonelli now holds a 123-point lead over his Mercedes teammate and a 124-point advantage over the Ferrari driver. With nine race wins already secured, Antonelli holds an unassailable advantage in the countback tiebreaker, ensuring that even a worst-case scenario cannot be overturned by points alone.
The path to becoming the youngest World Champion in F1 history is now a formality, but it must be completed in Mexico City. Antonelli needs only to finish 100 points ahead of both Russell and Hamilton to claim the crown. Effectively, any finish in front of his rivals, or a ninth-place finish regardless of their results, will secure the title. The sport awaits the 20-year-old’s final step to history next weekend.
Source: The Guardian Sport
